Rocket and satellite toy apparatus



July 26, 1960 c. H. TRAYLoR, JR

ROCKET AND SATELLITE Toy APPARATUS I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 19582 `s B 4 66 n. 2 s w 4o a m Hmm 54 mi A IMM A l )Ullflllh `.ue Af 8 d 2l 1 66 O NIIHAHB. W. F.- l A V M INVENTOR. CHARLES HTRAY Longa,

A 770/?/VVS July 26,L 1960 c. H. TRAYLoR, JR 2,946,151

ROCKET AND SATELLITE TOY APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 21G: [al e-4` f M 33o i L02 5 1; I l M8 'a l 0 0 O 1 so e@ a f@ .A 1 11e82 N- Q 3,5? l I i," .I l In?. il@ 2 ,l A o8 u 11A 28 8 L' l l ;Llo o 6""*1 14 lo s o i INVENTOR. CHARLES HTRAYLQQAQ.

July 26, 1960 c:` H. TRAYLOR, JR

ROCKET AND SATELLITE Toy APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 29, 1958 Ky INVENTOR.

CHARLES Hffzrnozpe 147 Taf/Vm yfor support upon a door or table.

vUnited States Patent ,j

y 2,946,151 ROCKET SATELLITE TOY APPARATUS Charles H. Traylor, Llr., Box145, `Walreilield, Va.

Filed May 29, 1958, Ser. No. 738,763

4 Claims. (Cl. 46-74) The present invention relates to toys generallyand in' particular' to a rocket and satellite toy apparatus.

An object of 4the present invention is 'to provide a toy apparatus inthe form of a rocket launcher, a rocket, and 'a `satellite carried bythe rocket, such apparatus lending itself to amusing and instructiveplay for children, one which is automatic in operation, and one highlyeiective in action.

Another object of the present invention is to provide ya rocket andsatellite toy apparatus which is sturdy in construction, one foolproofin operation, one economical to manufacture and assemble, and one whichis commercially practical.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in vconjunctionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure l is an elevational View, partially in section, showing therocket and satellite toy apparatus according y'to the present inventionwith the rocket in position on the upper end of the launching member ofthe apparatus;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the upper end of the launching membershowing the rocket-driving plunger and spring in cocked position;

Figure 3 is a View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similarto Figure 2, showing the Figure 9 is a viewtaken on the line 9-9 of Figure 7 Figure 10 is a partial sectional viewof the elevating means for Vthe rocket member removed from the rocl'etmember;

Figure 1l is a view partially schematic 'and as seen onv line 11-11 ofFigure 5, showing the motor reversing switch in a neutral position;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 1l, showing vthe switch in aposition for elevating the rocket launching member; and l Figure 13 is aview similar to Figures ll and l2, showing the switch in the rock-etlaunching member lowering position.

'Referring in greater detail to the drawings in which f like numeralsindicate like parts throughout the several views, the rocket andsatellite toy apparatus of the present invention is designated generallyby the reference numeral 20 and comprises a base 22 having a flat bottomsurface At one endl of the base 22 is a motor or control housing 24 andat the other end is a platform yor support 26 representing a launchingpad. A lower wall 28 extends around the perimeter of the support 26 andserves as a guide for the lower end of an upstanding launchingl member30 when the latter is positioned upon the support 26, The upper end of Alhollow cylinder 33 having a closed lower end andA an lopen upper end issecured by its upper end in the cap 34 in concentric relation withrespect to the aperture 36. A coil spring 40 is positioned within thecylinder 38 and has its lower end resting upon the closed end 42 of thecylinder 38, A plunger 44 having a head 46 on its upper end and a base4801i its lower end is positioned within the aperture 36 with its head46 normally resting upon the upper surface of the cap 34. The base 48 ofthe plunger 44 bears against the upper end of the spring 40 and isengaged by the free end 5t) of a spring leaf lever 52, constituting alatch means, which is positioned beneath the cap 34. The lever 52 ismounted upon the outermost tube 54. Telescoping within the tube S4 is anintermediate tube 56, and into the tube 56 is telescopically received aninnermost tubev S8. In Figure 1, Athe respective tubes 54, 56 and 58 areshown in nested positions and in Figure 10, saidtubes are shown inextended positions.

' 34 and carries the lever 52 with the free end Sti remote from the cap34.

As shown in Figure 2, the free end Sil of the levery 52 projects througha slot titl provided in the cylinder 38 and engages the base 4S of theplunger 44 on the upper face thereof when the springy 4i) is compressedby a manually applied force to theplunger head 46. The lever 52 carriesa projection 62 extending through a slot 64 provided in the outermosttube 54 adjacent the upper end thereof. The slot 64 is in registrywith'the slot 60 as clearly shown in Figure 2. A latch release lever isdisposed in the space between the launching member 3u and the outermosttube 54, Figures 2 and4, and is pivotally mounted on the projection 62forlimited rotation about a horizontal axis or pin 65. As shown inFigures 2 and 4, the one end of the lever k66 bears against the 4outerface of the tube 54 and an actuating rod 68 is connected to the otherend of the lever 66. Application of a pulling force, as will beexplained later, to the rod n 68 effects the movement of the lever 65from vthe position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 4,effecting the withdrawal of the free'end Sti of the lever 52 out ofengagement with the plunger base d, thereby releasing Vthe plunger 44and permitting its ejection upwardly through the aperture 36 under theaction ofthe spring 40.

As seen in Figure 10, the tubes 54 and 56 'are provided with slots 70and 72, receiving pins 74 and 75, respectively, the pin 74 being fixedto the upper end of the intermediate tube '56 and the pin 76 being fixedto the upper end of the innermost tube 53. The arrangement of the pins74 and `76 in the slots '70 and 72 prevent the total disconnection ofthe tubes 54, 56, and 5S from each other when'the'y are projected to theextended position relative fto' each other. The slots '7u and 72 extendnearly to thevle'nds of vthe tubes 54 and 56 and the tubes 54, Staand S3telescope to the exterior face ofthe closed end'42 of the cylinder 38.An intermediate portion of the cable 78 extends through a hole in thesupport 26 and the other end of the cable 78 is secured to a reel 80 inthe motor or control housing 24, the reel being shown most clearly inFigure 5. A guide tube 82 extends from the housing 24 to the support 26and has the portion within the support part of the base 22 turnedupwardly and in communication with the lower end of the support 26.

A motor 84, of the reversible type, is mounted within the housing 24 andhas its shaft 86 directly connected to the reel 80. The guide tube 82 ispivotally supported in a pivot point 88 (Figure 1) so that as the cable78 is unwound from the reel 80 the guide tube 82 swings from the fullline position shown in Figure to the dotted line position.

Mounted upon the motor shaft 86 is a rst bevel gear 90 in meshingengagement with a second bevel gear 92 carried on a shaft 94 whichextends from the housing 24 to the part of the base 22 beneath thesupport 26. Another bevel gear 96 is carried on the end portion of theshaft 94 beneath the-support 26 and is in driving engagement with thebevel gear 98 carried upon a jack shaft 100. The ends of the jack shaft100 are mounted in suitable bearings provided in the base 22 and a maindrive gear 102 is carried upon the shaft 100 adjacent and spaced fromthe bevel gear 98. The drive gear 102 is in mesh with a pinion 104carried on a first driven shaft 106. A second driven shaft 108 ispositioned in parallel spaced relation with respect to the shaft 106and, as shown in Figure 5, like the driven shaft 106, has its endsmounted within the elongated portions of the support Wall 28, as shownin Figure 1. A pinion gear 110 on the shaft 106 is in drivingrelationship with a pinion gear 112 carried by the shaft 108. A toothsparking wheel 114 is carried upon each of the shafts 106 and 108 and isin rubbing engagement with a conventional tlint 116 mounted in the wall28 and biased outwardly by conventional spring means as at 118 in Figure5.

Preferably, either the bevel gear 90 or the pinion gear 102 may beconnected by conventional clutch means to their associated shafts 86 or100, respectively, so that upon actuation of the motor 84 and rotationof the shaft 86 in one direction the sparking wheels 114 are caused torub against the iiints 116 and to thereby produce sparks outwardly ofthe bottom of the launching member 30. Such clutch means is notnecessary, however, and is not here illustrated as not a part of theinvention and for reasons of simplification.

Referring t-o Figures 6 to 9, a rocket toy is designated generally bythe reference numeral 120 and consists in an upwardly tapering bodyhaving a suction cup 122 facing upwardly and resiliently connected toits upper end. The toy 120 is closed at its lower larger end by a oor124 against which -bears one end of a coil spring 126. The other end ofthe spring 126 bears against the bottom of the compartment 128 having adoor 130 pivotally mounted in the body of the toy 1Z0 and normally tlushwith the exterior wall of the toy 120. A rod 132 is mounted within thetoy 120 for upward and downward movement and is biased to the upwardposition by means of a spring 134 bearing against a collar 136 carriedby the rod 132 inwardly of and adjacent the upper end of the toy 120. Atransversely arranged bar 138 is xedly secured to the lower end of therod 132 and carries a hook 140 on one end engageable with a cooperatinglip or hook 142 on the free edge of the door 130.

As shown in Figure 7, the spring 134 normally biases the rod 132 to theposition in which the suction cup 122 is above and spaced from the smallend of the toy 120. Upon impact of the suction cup 122 with an overheadsurface, such as the ceiling of a room as designated by the referencenumeral 144 in Figure 8, the rod 132 is pushed downwardly to theposition in which the catch or hook 140 is out of engagement with thedoor hook 142.

4 This permits the opening of the compartment 128 and the ejectiontherefrom of a toy satellite 146 which is normally carried within thecompartment 128. Preferably, the satellite 146 is fabricated oflightweight material or it may be filled with a lighter than air gas iffound to be practical.

The means for actuating the releasable latch means embodying the lever52 to permit the ejectment of the plunger 44 consists in two other rods148 and 150 telescopingly arranged with respect to the rod 68, as shownin Figure l. The lower end ofthe rod 150 is ixedly secured to thesupport 26 and upon upward movement of the launching member 30 inresponse to actuation of the motor 84 in one direction the tubes 54 and56 extend above the tube 58 and the rods 68, 148, and 150 telescope totheir greatest length and trip the lever 66 to effect the release of theplunger 44.

Referring to Figures 11 to 13, means are shown for effecting theautomatic reversal of the motor 84. This means consists in a rst switch152 mounted in one end of a transverse portion of the base 22 adjacentthe housing 24 and a second switch 154 mounted in the other end of suchbase portion. One contact of each switch 152 and 154 is carried by anactuating rod 156 which is slidably mounted in the base portion and hasa portion 158 adjacent one end exteriorly of such base portion. InFigure 11 the switches 152 and 154 are shown in their open positions.Legs 160 and 162 depend from the actuating rod 156 on each side of theadjacent portion of the guide tube 82 and are engaged thereby as theguide tube 82 moves transversely of the base 22.

In operation, with the switch 152 and the switch 154 open as in Figure11, finger pressure is applied to the projecting end portion 158 of therod 156 to close the switch 152 as in Figure 12. This will energize themotor 84 to drive the shaft 86 in one direction effecting the rotationof the reel to unreel the cable 78 therefrom and to project the sameupwardly through the innermost tube 58 and thereby elect the extensionof the tubes 54 and 56 above the tube 58 to the position shown in Figure6. As the tube 54 reaches or nearly reaches the uppermost limit of itsmovement, the rod 68 and its associated rods 148 and 150 are projectedto the extended positions, as shown in Figure 6, and a pulling force istransmitted to the rod 68 relative to the extended tubes 54, 56 and 58,causing the lever 66 to tilt about its axis or pin 65 in acounterclockwise direction and apply a force to the tube 54 adjacent theslot 64 through the intermediacy of the one end of the lever 52 to shiftthe projection 62 outwardly of the slot 64, thereby effecting thewithdrawal of the free end 50 of the lever 52 out of engagement with theplunger 48 and the plunger to be ejected upwardly through the aperture36 under the action of the spring 40. This effects the castingvertically upwardly of the toy and launches the toy 120 into space. Uponstriking of the overhead surface or ceiling of a room, the suction cup122 on the upper end of the toy 120 will cause the toy 120 to cling tothe ceiling momentarily and the striking of the suction cup 122 resultsin the opening of the compartment 128 and ejection of the satellite 146from the toy 120, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6.

When the cable 78 has been unwound from the reel 80 the guide tube 82will be in the position shown in Figure 13 and bearing against the oneleg 162 to effect the actuation of the rod 156 to the right, closing theswitch 154 and reversing the motor 84 so that the cable 78 is rewoundupon the reel 80 and the tubes 54, 56, and 58 are telescoped to theiroriginal position nested together as in Figure 1.

An important feature of the present invention consists in the sparkingwheels 114 and their driving connection to the motor 84. The ints 116are so arranged with reference to their associated sparking wheels 114that as the motor 84 is initially energized, sparks are thrown outwardlyand downwardly from the base of the launching dotarsi member Sil-in arealisticmanner representing lthe Haming of the rocket fuel of Vaconventional rocket.:

The cable 78,is preferably fabricated of plastic, woven;- metal, or thelike, suicientlyrigid as toresistrbendingin.V

the narrow confine of the tube 58 or the guide tube 82. A certain`amount of slack should be allowed inthe cable 78 so that the sparkingwheels 114 reach their maximum speed of rotation prior to moving ofthelaunching member. 30 upwardly. Additionally, the.' gears 110%.andj112shouldbe weighted4 tothereby provide, momentum for the sparking :wheelsl,114 .when,.driven; by theA motor- 84 and the associates shafts andgears.

After the launching member 30 has been projected upwardly `by the thrustimparting cable '78 and motor 84, the rocket toy 120 launched into spaceby the unloading of the spring 40, and the miniature satellite 146ejected from the compartment 128 by the propelling spring 126, j

the toy 120 may be retrieved and replaced on the upper end of thelaunching member 30 so that it rests upon the cap 34 and upon the head46 of the plunger 44. Manually applied pressure to the toy 120 willdepress the plunger 44, permitting the free end 5l) of the lever 52 toagain engage with the base 4S of the plunger 44 with the trippingelement or lever 66 in its upwardly sloping position to which it hasbeen returned by the spring action of the lever 52. The miniaturesatellite 146 may again be placed within the compartment 12S and thecompartment door 134i closed and latched for repeated launching andcasting of the satellite into space.

What is claimed is:

l. A rocket and satellite toy apparatus comprising a base adapted torest upon a supporting surface, a support carried by said base, anupstanding launching member positioned upon said base so that the lowerend rests upon said support with the upper end spaced above and invertical spaced alignment with said support, a vertically disposedspring-loaded plunger positioned within said launching member adjacentto and below the upper end of said launching member and having the upperend normally resting upon the upper end of said launching member,releasablelatch means for holding said plunger in the normal position, arocket toy normally bridging the upper end of said plunger and supportedupon said launching member, an openable and closable door on said rockettoy, a miniature satellite in said rocket toy, propelling meanswithinsaid rocket toy for ejecting said satellite out of said door when thelatter has been moved to the open position, thrust imparting meanscarried by said base and operatively connected to said launching memberfor projecting s'aid launching member from the position of rest uponsaid support vertically upwardly from said base, and a tripping elementcarried by said thrust imparting means and operable upon execution ofthe upward movement of said launching member to shift said latch meansto the released position and permit the unloading of said plunger andthe upper end of said plunger to be forcibly ejected against the rockettoy and launch the rocket toy into space, the door of said rocket toybeing shiftable to open position upon contact by the launched rocket toyof an overhead object and permit actuation of the propelling means toeject the satellite into space.

2. A rocket and satellite toy apparatus comprising a base adapted torest upon a supporting surface, a support carried by said base, anupstanding launching member positioned upon said base so that the lowerend rests upon said support with the upper end spaced above and invertical spaced alignment with said support, a cap on the upper end ofsaid launching member, there being an aperture extending verticallythrough said cap, a vertically disposed spring-loaded plunger positionedwithin said launching member adjacent to and below said cap and havingthe upper end normally bridging said aperture and resting upon said cap,releasable latch means for holding said plunger in the normal position,a rocket toy normally bridging the upper end of said plunger andsupported upon said cap, an vopenable and; closable ,dooreon-usaidtrocket toy, a miniaturesatellite iuz'said;roeketftQl/lpmzpelling meanswithin ,said rocket toyzforf ejectingm aidg,` satellite out of said,door when the `latter hasbeentmovedgf to the open position,,thrustimparting-:means carried by;Jv said -base and operativelyconnectedV toi-,saidglaunchingg member for projecting said launchingmember, from the position of rest upon said.support,fvertically-Aupwardly, from said base, and atripping element lcarried,by said thrustimparting means -and operable upon ,v-executiontofi the upwardlyprojecting movement of said launchinggrnem-vA` ber to shift said latchmeans to the released position and permit the unloading of said plungerand the upper end of said plunger to be forcibly ejected against therocket toy and launch the rocket toy into space, the door of said rockettoy being shiftable to open position upon contact by the launched rockettoy of an overhead object and permit actuation of the propelling meansto eject the satellite into space.

3. A rocket and satellite toy apparatus comprising a base adapted torest upon a supporting surface, a support carried by said base, anupstanding launching member positioned upon said base so that the lowerend rests upon said support with the upper end spaced above and invertical spaced alignment with said support, a cap on the upper end ofsaid launching member, there being an aperture extending verticallythrough said cap, a vertically disposed spring-loaded plunger positionedwithin said launching member adjacent to and below said cap and havingthe upper end normally bridging said aperture and resting upon said cap,releasable latch means for holding said plunger in the normal position,a rocket toy normally bridging the upper end of said plunger andsupported upon said cap, an openable and closable door on said rockettoy, a miniature satellite in said rocket toy, propelling means withinsaid rocket toy for ejecting said satellite out of said door when thelatter has been moved to the open position, thrust imparting meansincluding a reel supported on said base for rotary movement about ahorizontal axis `and a cable wound upon said reel and having the freeend operatively connected to said launching member for projecting saidlaunching member from the position of rest upon said support verticallyupwardly from said base, andl a tripping element carried by said thrustimparting means and operable upon execution of the upwardly projectingmovement of said launching member to shift said :latch means to theIreleased position and permit the unloading of said plunger and theupper end of said plunger to be `forcibly ejected against the rocket toyand launch the rocket toy into space, the door of said rockettoy beingshiftable to open position upon contact by the launched rocket toy of:an overhead object and permit actuation of the propelling means toeject the satellite into space.

4. A rocket and satellite toy apparatus comprising a base adapted torest upon a supporting surface, a support carried by said base, anupstanding launching member positioned upon said base Yso that the lowerend rests upon said support with the upper end spaced above and invertical spaced alignment with said support, a cap on the upper end ofsaid launching member, there being an aperture extending verticallythrough said cap, a vertically disposed spring-loaded plunger positionedwithin said launching member adjacent to and below said cap and havingthe upper end normally bridging said aperture and resting upon said oap,releasable latch means for holding said plunger-n the normal position, arocket toy normally bridging the upper end of s-aid plunger andsupported upon said cap, an openable and closable door on said rockettoy, a miniature satellite in said rocket toy, Y propelling means withinsaid rocket toy for ejecting said satellite out of said door` when thelatter has been moved to the open position, thrust imparting meansincluding a reel supported on sa-id base 4for rotary movement labout alhorizontal axis, a plurality of upstanding tubes arranged in telescopicnested position positioned within said launching member and having theupper end of one of said tubes fixedly attached to said cap, vand acable wound upon said reel and having the free end operatively connectedto the portion of said one tube adjacent to Yand below said cap forprojecting said launching member from the position of rest upon saidsupport vertically upwardly from said base, and a tn'pping elementcariredby 'said' thrust t said plunger to be forcibly ejected -againstthe rocket toy into space, the door of said rocket toy being shiftabl'eto open position upon contact by the launched rocket toy of an overheadobject and permit actuation of the propelling means to eject thesatellite into space.

Coleman et a1 Apr. 20, 1954 2,733,699 Krinsky Feb. 7, 1956 2,751,711Greenwood .Tune 26, 1956

